A senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Gholam Reza Soleimani, issued a striking denunciation of Israel and the West in a public speech delivered at a festival organized by the Abuzar Media Organization. The address—charged with ideological fervor and steeped in anti-Israel rhetoric—reflects the Iranian regime’s ongoing efforts to frame the conflict with Israel as a fundamental struggle between truth and falsehood, and underscores the continued role of Iran as the strategic and ideological anchor of an expanding network of proxy forces involved in regional hostilities.
In his speech, Soleimani described Palestine as the “benchmark of truth” and portrayed Zionism as inherently deceitful, alleging that “Western powers have always coveted Palestine” while claiming that the purported “crimes” of Zionist forces have persisted throughout history. These statements, made before an audience of regime-aligned media figures and security elites, are emblematic of the enduring Iranian narrative that not only demonizes Israel but seeks to justify Tehran’s own interventionist regional strategy.
Escalating Iranian Rhetoric
The language employed by the IRGC Basij commander is consistent with the wider discourse promoted by Iran’s clerical leadership since 1979: portraying Israel as a morally bankrupt entity and as a proxy of Western imperial ambitions. This narrative is further amplified by the regime’s extensive media apparatus, which leverages public events and state-sponsored platforms to advance messaging hostile not only to Israel but also to the United States and allied states.
These rhetorical attacks serve a dual purpose. Domestically, they reinforce loyalty within the ranks of the IRGC and mobilize popular support for the regime’s ideological worldview. Externally, such statements are designed to rally Tehran’s network of regional proxies—including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and allied groups in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen—by positioning Iran as the vanguard of what it calls the “axis of resistance.”
The Broader Conflict: Iranian Proxies and Regional Insecurity
Iran’s proxy warfare has become a defining feature of Middle Eastern instability. The IRGC provides financial, technical, and military support to terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, whose explicit aim is the destruction of the State of Israel. These groups perpetrate attacks against Israeli civilians, most horrifically evidenced in the October 7, 2023 massacre by Hamas in southern Israel—the deadliest antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust. More than 1,200 Israelis were murdered, and the acts included kidnappings, sexual violence, and systematic brutality, orchestrated with Iranian support and celebrated by the same regime officials now condemning Israel in public forums.
Israel, in response, has carried out military operations to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in Gaza and defend its citizens from an ongoing threat—actions conducted within the framework of international law and proportional self-defense. The Israeli government has repeatedly stated that it is facing a war imposed upon it by Iran and its associated terror proxies, which continue to threaten its territorial integrity and civilian population.
Historical Distortion and Strategic Ambition
Soleimani’s claim that the West “coveted Palestine” for generations reflects persistent efforts by the Iranian state to rewrite historical fact and delegitimize both the Jewish state and its international supporters. In reality, the modern State of Israel was reestablished according to the principles of self-determination and was recognized by the United Nations in 1948 after centuries of Jewish connection to the land. It is the refusal of Israel’s legitimacy by hostile regimes such as Iran and their support for violent proxies that have perpetuated cycles of conflict.
Iran’s ideological framework—couched in religious and revolutionary dogma—has hampered regional development, fomented instability, and prolonged the suffering of millions, including residents of Gaza and Lebanon, who remain hostage to the ambitions of Tehran and its terror affiliates. While Iranian officials continue to frame their war against Israel as one of liberating the region, the reality remains the systematic destabilization of sovereign neighbors and the pursuit of hegemonic influence across the Middle East.
The Role of Media and Disinformation
Events such as the Abuzar Media Organization festival demonstrate the regime’s investment in information warfare. The manipulation of narratives, both domestically and abroad, serves to delegitimize Israel and create fertile ground for continued aggression. In international arenas, including diplomatic bodies and media organizations, Iranian-aligned voices seek to muddy the reality of ongoing terror, often conflating Israel’s defensive actions with acts of aggression while downplaying or excusing atrocities committed by Iran’s proxies.
The Response: Israel’s Commitment to Security and Democratic Values
Against the backdrop of sustained threats, Israel’s responses remain anchored in a commitment to defend its population while adhering to the rule of law and democratic norms. The moral and legal distinction between Israel—a sovereign democracy—and Iran’s network of terror groups could not be starker. Hostages taken by force, including women and children abducted by Hamas, are innocent victims—their plight a glaring rebuke to attempts to draw moral equivalence between them and convicted terrorists released in exchanges.
With regional alliances such as the Abraham Accords advancing, and cooperation between Israel and key allies—including the United States—deepening, Tehran’s campaign of delegitimization continues to face robust diplomatic and strategic opposition.
Conclusion: A Battle for Truth and Security
The speech delivered by IRGC commander Gholam Reza Soleimani is a reminder that the war in the region is fought not only with weapons but with words—words designed to reshape reality, obscure evidence, and rally extremist forces to prolong conflict. As Israel continues its defensive operations against Iranian-backed networks, the need for responsible, evidence-based journalism and clear-eyed diplomacy remains urgent.
The international community must resist the manipulation of history and language that underpins Iran’s narrative, and instead support efforts grounded in facts and committed to the enduring security and stability of the region’s only democracy. Iran’s rhetoric may attempt to define the terms of truth and falsehood, but the lessons of history and the lived reality of terror and resilience in Israel bear witness to where the real measure lies.
